Geography BSc (Hons)

30 credits

This module introduces key fundamental topics in physical geography, overviewing the various spheres of the Earth, associated processes and interaction. Themes are presented systematically as a cross-section of the Earth's physical structure: geological underpinning, Earth surface processes (introducing geomorphology, the pedosphere and hydrosphere), the atmosphere, and the biosphere.

Interwoven within these topics are lectures on associated environmental hazards, including geophysical hazards (e.g., volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis), atmospheric hazards (including hurricanes and tornadoes) and environmental and ecological hazards (including oil spills, and wildfires).

Processes behind these major natural and man-made environmental hazards will be described, with reasons provided for their occurrence and global spatial distribution. Detailed case studies from a variety of geographical regions will help to build a portfolio of examples, enhancing student knowledge of the processes, impacts and means of forecasting and mitigating against hazards becoming disasters.

The module introduces students to the application of environmental and geophysical knowledge and skills to real world challenges and potential discipline-related employment opportunities.

30 credits

This module introduces students to key geographical theories and concepts whilst providing a foundation for future studies in Human Geography. Students gain a broad understanding of the relationship between human societies and a range of economic, cultural, social and political processes at a variety of scales.

The module is delivered using lectures and seminars and is supported by a range of online materials. The lectures introduce students to key geographical themes and ideas with the seminars providing the opportunity to explore these further in a group setting. The module provides an essential introduction to future human geography modules that focus in more detail on key geographical theories, concepts, and processes.

30 credits

Maps are tools for visualising spatial information to communicate pattern, processes, and the results of geographical analysis. This module explores the principles and practice of map design and production using Geographical Information System (GIS) software. GIS are introduced, including representations of reality, data types, data management, data quality, and simple analytical operations.

The cartographic design process will be explained including graphic design principles and different modes of delivery (hardcopy/web map/3D) and contrasted to ‘traditional' manual map-making. Legal and ethical issues relating to copyright and attribution of data and media are explained.

Students' digital literacy employability skills will be developed, and the module will provide a baseline for developing more advanced GIS and mapping skills and levels 5 and 6.

15 credits

This module introduces students to a range of research methods that form the basis of successful investigations in their subject discipline areas, including research design, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and analysis interpretation.

The module, importantly, also introduces fieldwork as a key investigative element of both environmental and geographical study. The module incorporates the core Level 4 fieldwork, developing both generic fieldwork skills (e.g. pre-field trip reconnaissance using a range of secondary data sources and remote sensing, field safety risk assessments, safety in the field, and ethical considerations) and discipline specific site investigations (e.g. field observations, triangulation for map location and geometrical data collection using compass-clinometers, surveying techniques and GPS location, water quality surveys, analyses of archival data, and questionnaires and interviews).

15 credits

This module will explore the global environmental, economic, and social problems that society faces and encourage students to find and create sustainable innovative solutions.

The students will be introduced to the complex societal problems and current challenges associated with social justice, cultural inequalities, ethics, and climate change emergencies, this will enable them to reflect on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The students will be immersed in a culture of education that provides knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills and encourages them to think about possible solutions seeking to balance economic, environmental, and social objectives set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), and the challenges in achieving those goals.

Students will be able to develop knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills associated with systems thinking and integrated problem-solving within the context of environmental systems and processes and the built environment. This will encourage students to critically address ways to mitigate and solve complex global societal problems addressed by the UNSDGs.

Working in teams, students will explore, and debate: to evaluate the interconnectivity between the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), collaborate and co-design practical and equitable strategic solutions to Net Zero carbon (positive), and evaluate sustainability-related global challenges (e.g., the climate emergency) while developing critical thinking and self-awareness

15 credits

Students are introduced to their course learning aims and consider their anticipated learning targets from induction to graduation. Students are guided to identify and take ownership of their personal academic journey through the development and application of academic skills aligned to KU Graduate Attributes and their discipline-specific professional body learning outcomes.

Students are tutored in a range of learning to learn techniques and are introduced to assessment for learning and the role of feedback, reflection and feedforward as an integrated part of their learning journey. This will be supported through active engagement in the KU Navigate Programme enabling students to understand and begin to develop a design thinking approach to Future Skills development.

30 credits

This module focuses on the development of geographical thought and practice from the institutionalisation of the discipline to the present. In doing so, the module traces the shifting paradigms that have dominated the discipline and examines the multiple approaches now possible within geographical research and the methodologies that underpin them.

Focusing on a range of topics, part student selected, the module will explore the diverse ways that geographers working in different paradigms have approached these topics. Having developed a sound knowledge of geographical research, theory and practice, students will then develop an independent research proposal. In doing so, students will identify a topic of their choice, select a suitable disciplinary perspective from which to examine it and an appropriate method of investigation.

In the first part of the module, students will gain a thorough understanding of the nature of geographical research. In the second part of the module, students will apply this knowledge through the development of their own research project

30 credits

This is a core module for Geography students. In the first part of the module students will be trained in quantitative and qualitative data analysis. In doing so, they will learn how to collect, collate, analyse and critique qualitative and quantitative data. In the second part of the module students will build on the skills developed in TB1 in the execution of an interdisciplinary team based project.

30 credits

This module explores the physical science of Earth's hydrosphere and the atmosphere, key processes and principles, and associated hazards. Through a sculpted narrative, the module will take students on an investigative journey to explore land, ocean and atmosphere environments and their interactions, with a persistent focus on the impact of climate change on these systems.

The narrative will follow the water cycle, starting with precipitation on land and a study of drainage basins, followed by investigations of rivers, estuaries and coasts, then the ocean and ocean circulation, and finally the atmosphere. Hydrological and sedimentological processes will be considered, following a source to sink approach.

A variety of hydrospheric and atmospheric hazards will be considered throughout the module. These include riverine and coastal flooding, sea-level rise, and severe weather hazards associated with ENSO, the Indian Ocean Dipole and the SE Asian Monsoon System. Fieldwork, GIS and remote sensing practicals are integral to this module; they provide real-world skills and training relevant to a wide variety of environmental science, hazards and geography careers.

15 credits

With the increasing focus on data science and big data, data literacy and the ability to develop and implement analytical workflows have become essential transferrable skills. This module is concerned with how to obtain, process, integrate, analyse, visualise, and analyse geographical data within GIS software to discover and quantify spatial patterns. It offers the means to critically evaluate data, analytical approaches, and the outcomes in relation to the principles of information and cartographic design.

The principles and methods of digital data collection and post-processing are introduced (e.g. GPS, mobile apps, aerial and space-based survey, secondary data, APIs). Students will learn how to apply exploratory and basic analytical techniques (e.g. buffer, spatial join, overlay, surface and network analysis) to discover pattern. They are introduced to and gain practical experience of the relational database, and network and surface data models and their analytical use.

15 credits

This module presents a series of thematic taught sessions overviewing major geomorphological processes and landforms, sedimentary environments and potential hazards associated with these environments. Students will investigate a diverse range of geomorphological environments encapsulating a variety of continental and tectonic terranes and coastal landscapes.

Module curricula will explore geomorphological features fundamental to these various environments and consider the geological and geomorphological processes that shape these landscapes. Geomorphological change will be considered for the various landscapes and, in concordance, students will explore how climate change is impacting the various environments, in what way this affects populations living in these areas, and how the risk can be managed.

On completion, students will gain a detailed understanding of the major surface processes and their geomorphological significance and will be able to interpret a range of geomorphological landscapes. The module emphasises the mastery of geomorphological skills through experiential learning closely associated to core lecture delivery.

The practical programme will aid students in evaluating key geomorphological concepts, learning and testing analytical techniques. The fieldwork programme provides an arena for applying new skills and knowledge gained and provides a learning bridge to students wishing to pursue physical geographical and/or hazards-based research projects at Level 6.

30 credits

This Level 5 module introduces the key theories and concepts in the social science approaches to understanding disasters, one of the major global challenges facing humanity. It explores the social, cultural, political, economic and other factors that combine to construct vulnerabilities to disasters, and the ways in which these might be countered through Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies. These issues are explored at a range of spatial scales, from the local to the global, along with the inter-linkages and process that bind them together.

The relationship between evolving theories and practice are explored through a number of case studies which consider developed and developing world examples across a variety of hazard types. The challenges posed by the interdisciplinary approaches that are necessary to tackle disasters, and the need to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, are examined. The complex range of factors influencing DRR implementation in particular contexts, and the variety of skills needed to evaluate DRR are investigated through fieldwork.

The fieldwork will also provide an opportunity for students to gain an understanding of the processes involved in developing a research proposal. Employability skills and the transferability of acquired knowledge to the workplace environment are introduced and developed.

15 credits

The module is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of investigating a range of contemporary global issues in terms of their political economy. This includes a wide range of spatial issues from the local to the global and the inter-linkages and process that bind them together.

The key focus is to understand how contemporary capitalism works and plays out across different spatial levels and to highlight the processes that underpin it and the implications for different communities and their environments. This includes exploring relations between, state, business and citizens within the context of how we understand the global development challenges of climate change and sustainable development.

15 credits

This module examines geographical approaches to the study of societies and cultures, and their relationships with the environment, past and present. In doing so, the module examines the development of different approaches towards the study of people and place, the representational forms used and produced, the positions from which they speak, and their role in shaping discourses about people and place in various parts of the world.

The module is case study based where students examine research from the academic literature, some of which will be instructor-led, and some of which will be independently sourced by students. Students will also be asked to apply the ideas discussed in class to real world examples.

30 credits

This module provides students with experiences in the design, preparation and execution of an independent and supervised programme of research. The module guides students to employ reflective learning techniques and to develop a variety of level-appropriate employability skills by engaging with their research project as academic research with commercial, policy or political value which requires effective dissemination and communication to a range of suitable audiences.

Employability skills developments are integral to the Research Project module. The specific nature of the research project chosen allows the students to target specific skills they wish to develop in their learning pathway and the project supervisors will work closely with the students to identify and articulate these skills and relate these to Future Skills.

30 credits

This module introduces students to critical theories of development and challenges students to critically reflect on their value in real world situations. It also explores the relations within and between countries and the challenge of achieving sustainable development in the context of globalisation and climate change. The module includes substantial international non-European fieldwork and independent desk-based research.

Whilst it introduces theories of development, it is also an applied module which seeks to empower students to debate contemporary geographical issues within an international context.

Assessment seeks to engage students in critical appraisal of real world situations, and in strategic planning of interventions, so enhancing students' practical skills and employability.

15 credits

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply their developing professional skills competencies in their chosen area and will ensure they have a broad understanding of the business environment in which professional activities are undertaken. The module will develop the student's technical, management and interpersonal skills required to perform in a team environment and prepare the students for employment and entrepreneurship.

Students will participate in Kingston University's Bright Ideas competition where they will work together as a team to develop a business idea of their choice. To do this they will need to interact with relevant stakeholders outside the University.

Students will be guided to interact with professional and learning communities beyond the university and reflect on these interactions. This may include participation in co-curricular events such as subject-specific and career development events (e.g. talks, workshops, speed interviews), networking opportunities offered by the subject-specific professional bodies, exploring pathways to professional chartership/membership, leveraging interactions with professionals in the development of the final year research project and, reflecting on the co-benefits of these interactions.

15 credits

This module explores the science of climate change through an in-depth exploration of the components of the climate system and an examination of climate change indicators such as sea-level change and ocean acidification. The influence of human activities that contribute to climate change, such as greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation will be explored and future climate models and scenarios will be evaluated.

The module will highlight how recent climate change is predominantly due to anthropogenic forcing rather than natural climate drivers. Students will learn to critically evaluate and discuss models of future climate change and will produce their own climate projections for the UK based on real data.

The fieldwork programme will also provide students with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of climate change by seeing examples of past climate change in the local palaeo and geomorphic record. Examination of the palaeo record of past climate change will give context to the evaluation of future projected climate change scenarios.

15 credits

The module examines global water management challenges and sustainable options to seek their resolution. The module will develop the student's understanding and critical evaluation of these challenges from several perspectives including the challenges associated with environmental, social and economic change. This will include the examination of issues such as water scarcity and climate change, concerns for water security, land use impacts, socio-political drivers for change and regional water management issues.

The module will highlight a range of employability skills and challenge students to identify and value the transferability of these skills to the workplace and discuss cross-reference to the KU Graduate Attributes. These will include an assessment as learning activity that will develop fieldwork skills, design thinking and problem-solving and the communication of environmental knowledge. Where appropriate, external speakers will contribute to the debates.

15 credits

This module looks at social, spatial and environmental injustice and the ways in which such issues can be addressed. Using case studies from around the world, which include, but are not limited to, under-served, indigenous, refugee and asylum seekers, gypsy Roma and traveller communities

The module looks at the social, cultural, economic and political factors that underpin the rights and the denial for some communities to access core fundamentals such as land and resources, citizenship, freedom of expression, employment, shelter, accommodation and food security. Students will also examine social movements and forms of activism, as well as policy initiatives, that seek to redress social injustice and consider the role of research in raising public awareness of cases of social, spatial and environmental injustice at a range of spatial scales.

The module covers both theoretical and applied material and the assessment provides students with an opportunity to appraise real world situations, through local fieldwork, external professional input, internationally documented case studies and creative thinking, specifically designed to enhance practical skills and employability.

15 credits

This module tackles the key issues relating to climate change in the three main subject areas of science, policy and society. The module presents a series of thematic taught sessions (classroom and field-based) overviewing: climate-related hazards and disasters; how climate change is impacting the level of risk associated with various hazards – for example, heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, flooding events, and geophysical hazards; and the ways in which impacts and risk associated with climate change can be lessened through mitigation and adaptation.

Human activities in developed and industrialised nations in regions such as Europe, North America and East Asia have largely caused the changes in atmospheric composition and the current climate crisis; but it is poorer less developed nations (especially in Africa, south-east Asia and the Pacific islands) that are often most at risk to the increase in climate-related hazards. Students will learn how to examine, interpret and evaluate international, national and local policies and practices responding to climate change, and have the opportunity to engage in role-play debates and oral presentations.

The production of a detailed and coherent stakeholder report will provide real-world learning skills relevant to the environmental sector and tackling climate change. The fieldwork programme will provide the students with the opportunity to enhance their understanding of climate-related societal issues and consider current case studies of adaptation and mitigation.

15 credits

This module offers in-depth knowledge as well as hands-on skills for a series of spatial analytical and modelling approaches that can be used for solving real-world problems.

At the heart of this module will be the notion of spatial understanding of data science. This relates to the fundamental notion in geography and environmental science whereby spatial patterns and spatial inequity are rife in the real world (e.g., high property price in accessible and branded areas; persistence of crime hotspots; specific ecological habitats that exist for particular species; regions prone to a specific natural hazard such as hurricanes).

Offering solutions to these various challenges require a systematic and quantitative appreciation as well as suitable interpretation of the data, and this module is designed to offer the means to achieve this through a series of spatial analytical and spatial statistical methods, including point pattern analysis, spatial interpolation and spatial regression.